Well, we are just one day away from the eagerly anticipated academy awards (although perhaps at this point we should just call them The Artist awards). After 20 days of reflection, the BAFTA's and other things, I have made a few key amendments to my final predictions:
Best Picture
Will Win: The Artist
Could Win: Hugo
Should Win: Hugo
Biggest Snub: The Ides of March
What I thought was a much closer race at the time of my last blog has now become almost a formality for Michael Hazanavicious’s love letter to cinema, The Artist. It has been gathering momentum, and it’s competitors’ momentum has been waning. All in all, I think it’s going to be a comfortable win for another supremely overrated film. If not The Artist, then Hugo is probably the next in line, but don’t hold your breath.
Best Director
Will Win: Michael Hazanavicius - The Artist
Could Win: Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Should Win: Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life
Biggest Snub: Bennet Miller - Moneyball
The race Best Director is a little more interesting. I predicted Scorsese to do well here in my last predictions, and after his Golden Globe win, I’ve seen nothing to change my mind. With that said, I didn’t think The Tree of Life, great film though it is, would trouble the Oscars this year, so if the Academy are in the mood to nominate it, perhaps they’re in the mood to give Terrence Malick a directing nod, where it fares a much better chance than the Best Picture category.
Best Actor
Will Win: Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Could Win: George Clooney - The Descendants
Should Win: Gary Oldman - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Biggest Snub: Michael Fassbinder -Shame/Leonardo DiCaprio - J. Edgar
What seemed to be sewn up for Clooney is now Dujardin’s oscar to lose, The Artist now being a full on juggernaut at this point, there aren’t many categories it won’t win in, and Dujardin will probably clinch the award here.
Best Actress
Will Win: Viola Davis - The Help
Could Win: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Should Win: Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Biggest Snub: Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin
Probably the closest race in the major categories, the Best Actress award really could go either way, with Viola Davis and Meryl Streep set to battle it out for the statue. The Academy may wish to reward The Help, it would no doubt be seen as a good PR move, given The Help’s racially themed subject matter, but the Academy love Streep, and they love Britain, and they love seeing great Actors/Actresses giving great performances of British politicians during a time of strife in the country, such as war, such as The Falklands war, for those of you who don’t know your history. If you pushed me, I’d probably say Davis will take the award, but it really could go either way.
Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Could Win: Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn
Should Win: Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Biggest Snub: Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Ides of March
I was going to stick my neck out and say Kenneth Branagh, but the overwhelming feeling that it’s Plummer’s Oscar to lose is just too irresistible to ignore. Still, Branagh could nick it, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Octavia Spencer - The Help
Could win: Bérénice Bejo - The Artist
Should Win: Idunnolol
Biggest Snub: Jodie Foster - Carnage
Spencer probably takes the statue, but I can’t help but feel that The Academy smuggling Bérénice Bejo into a category she clearly doesn’t belong might just be a sly ploy to give The Artist another award. It should also be said that the other three nominees are all in with a shot, and it’s shaping up to be a tight race.
Best Original Screenplay
Will Win: Michael Hazanavicius - The Artist
Could Win: Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Should Win: Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Biggest Snub: There really weren’t any
I really, really, really don’t want to say The Artist here, but I think I have to, after it’s BAFTA win, and given The Artist’s power going into the awards, I can’t see Midnight in Paris taking the award.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash - The Descendants
Could Win: Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin - Moneyball
Should Win: George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon - The Ides of March
Biggest Snub: John Logan - Hugo
Difficult to predict, there’s no one powerhouse screenplay that seems poised to take the cake, I’m going to say The Descendants, but take it with a pinch of salt.
Best Animated Feature
Will Win: Rango
Could Win: Chico and Rita
Should Win: None of them
Biggest Snub: The Adventures of Tintin
After the baffling snub of The Adventures of Tintin, Rango is probably the most likely candidate to take the statue.
Best Foreign Film
Will Win: A Separation
Could Win: Bullhead
Should Win: A Separation
Biggest Snub: I don’t see many foreign films lol
I’m not quite as confident in this prediction as I was, but I still think A Separation will take it
My knowledge gets a little hazy and my predictions less well informed after this point, so take everything after this with a pinch of salt
Best Documentaries/Short films
Haven’t a clue, I’d be flat out guessing here
Best Original Score
Will Win: Ludovic Bource - The Artist
Could Win: John Williams - The Adventures of Tintin
Should Win: Howard Shore - Hugo
Best Original Song
Will Win: “Man or Muppet” - The Muppets
Could Win: Well, “Real in Rio” - Rio, seeing as it’s the only other nominee
Should Win: Haven’t heard either of them
Best Sound Editing
Will Win: Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis - Drive
Could Win: Ren Klyce - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Should Win: Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis - Drive
Best Sound Mixing
Will Win: David Parker, Ren Klyce, Michael Semanik and Bo Persson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Could Win: Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush, Peter J. Devlin - Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Should Win: David Parker, Ren Klyce, Michael Semanik and Bo Persson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Art Direction
Will Win: Hugo
Could Win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Should Win: Hugo
Best Cinematography
Will Win: Guillaume Schiffman - The Artist
Could Win: Robert Richardson - Hugo
Should Win: Robert Richardson - Hugo
Best Makeup
Will Win: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland - The Iron Lady
Could Win: Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Should Win: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland - The Iron Lady
Best Costume Design
Will Win: Mark Bridges - The Artist
Could Win: Sandy Powell - Hugo
Should Win: Sandy Powell - Hugo
Best Film Editing
Will Win: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Could Win: Thelma Schoonmaker - Hugo
Should Win: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Visual Effects
Will Win: Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barret - Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Could Win: Will Win: Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Should Win: Will Win: Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
25 February, 2012
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Review
Summery
Engaging, superbly acted, elegantly written and expertly brought together, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a rampant success on every level, with a particularly standout turn from Gary Oldman
Full Review
Tomas Alfredson is quickly becoming one of my favourite directors. After his 2008 vampire masterpiece, the majestic “Let the Right One In”, my hopes where high that he would be able to deliver on this adaptation of John le Carré’s classic espionage tale: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Alfredson demonstrates his directorial range in a film that is a very different beast to Let the Right One In, but carries a few fundamental similarities. As with Let the Right One In, the star of the film really is the tone of the film its self, as Alfredson masterfully creates a world that, while often gloomy and industrial feeling, manages to feel deep and fleshed out without ever really seeming to try too hard at all. It’s a dark and gloomy film with a complex and engaging narrative, it would have been an easy film to lose control and make a mess of, and without a master film-maker, there is a lot that could have gone wrong. Fortunately, Tomas Alfredson seems to be just that. Alfredson is a director with an unparalleled control of tone and mood, in addition to being an all round brilliant film-maker, and it shines through in every scene.
Tinker, Tailor gets so much right that’s hard to know where to begin, but one could do worse than start with one of the most talented casts ever assembled in any film, and it pays, delivering as good an ensemble performance as I can remember seeing. Gary Oldman is a roaring wonder in the main role as George Smiley, a British spy, forced out of British intelligence, but asked to come out of retirement to find a suspected mole. It’s a subtle, elegant performance from one of the most talented British actors of his generation, and probably the best lead performance in 2011. John Hurt and Benedict Cumberbatch in particular stand out, amongst the supporting characters, Cumberbatch in particular delivering a teriffic performance. Arguably the best scene of the film comes from a dialogue between Oldman and Cumberbatch that I wouldn't dream of spoiling, but it replays in my head as I write.
But what are great actors without great writing, and Bridget O’ Connor and Peter Straughn deliver a belter of a screenplay. Tinker, Tailor is about 90% dialogue, and a film like that just doesn’t work without great writing, it will make or break a film, and in this case, Tinker, Tailor delivers with panache and flair, without ever succumbing to flamboyance, it’s not a Social Network screenplay where the script steals the show. Rather, it gives the actors and the film exactly what they require to do their jobs to the fullest, in addition to a few show-stealing moments (particularly the aforementioned scene between Oldman and Cumberbatch). As much as the film gets right, I would be shirking my responsibilities if I were not to add, without giving anything away, that the ending does feel a little anticlimactic. It’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but I couldn’t help but feel somewhat let down by an ending that the film had been building so brilliantly towards. That aside however, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a masterful piece of work, every man and woman in the process working magic, every cog in the machine doing it’s job, creating a phenomenal ensemble piece, the kind that only comes along a few times a decade, and that should be appreciated and heralded as what it is… a pretty damn good film.
Should I see it?
Tinker, Tailor doesn’t treat you like a child, and if you’re the sort of viewer who just wants a bit of escapism and popcorn for a few hours, than maybe give it a miss. But for the more intelligent and demanding viewer, don’t miss it for the world. See it ASAP.
Overall Score: 88
Engaging, superbly acted, elegantly written and expertly brought together, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a rampant success on every level, with a particularly standout turn from Gary Oldman
Full Review
Tomas Alfredson is quickly becoming one of my favourite directors. After his 2008 vampire masterpiece, the majestic “Let the Right One In”, my hopes where high that he would be able to deliver on this adaptation of John le Carré’s classic espionage tale: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Alfredson demonstrates his directorial range in a film that is a very different beast to Let the Right One In, but carries a few fundamental similarities. As with Let the Right One In, the star of the film really is the tone of the film its self, as Alfredson masterfully creates a world that, while often gloomy and industrial feeling, manages to feel deep and fleshed out without ever really seeming to try too hard at all. It’s a dark and gloomy film with a complex and engaging narrative, it would have been an easy film to lose control and make a mess of, and without a master film-maker, there is a lot that could have gone wrong. Fortunately, Tomas Alfredson seems to be just that. Alfredson is a director with an unparalleled control of tone and mood, in addition to being an all round brilliant film-maker, and it shines through in every scene.
Tinker, Tailor gets so much right that’s hard to know where to begin, but one could do worse than start with one of the most talented casts ever assembled in any film, and it pays, delivering as good an ensemble performance as I can remember seeing. Gary Oldman is a roaring wonder in the main role as George Smiley, a British spy, forced out of British intelligence, but asked to come out of retirement to find a suspected mole. It’s a subtle, elegant performance from one of the most talented British actors of his generation, and probably the best lead performance in 2011. John Hurt and Benedict Cumberbatch in particular stand out, amongst the supporting characters, Cumberbatch in particular delivering a teriffic performance. Arguably the best scene of the film comes from a dialogue between Oldman and Cumberbatch that I wouldn't dream of spoiling, but it replays in my head as I write.
But what are great actors without great writing, and Bridget O’ Connor and Peter Straughn deliver a belter of a screenplay. Tinker, Tailor is about 90% dialogue, and a film like that just doesn’t work without great writing, it will make or break a film, and in this case, Tinker, Tailor delivers with panache and flair, without ever succumbing to flamboyance, it’s not a Social Network screenplay where the script steals the show. Rather, it gives the actors and the film exactly what they require to do their jobs to the fullest, in addition to a few show-stealing moments (particularly the aforementioned scene between Oldman and Cumberbatch). As much as the film gets right, I would be shirking my responsibilities if I were not to add, without giving anything away, that the ending does feel a little anticlimactic. It’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but I couldn’t help but feel somewhat let down by an ending that the film had been building so brilliantly towards. That aside however, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a masterful piece of work, every man and woman in the process working magic, every cog in the machine doing it’s job, creating a phenomenal ensemble piece, the kind that only comes along a few times a decade, and that should be appreciated and heralded as what it is… a pretty damn good film.
Should I see it?
Tinker, Tailor doesn’t treat you like a child, and if you’re the sort of viewer who just wants a bit of escapism and popcorn for a few hours, than maybe give it a miss. But for the more intelligent and demanding viewer, don’t miss it for the world. See it ASAP.
Overall Score: 88
19 February, 2012
On the Horizon...
I generally don’t enjoy doing “I’m gonna do this at some point” blogs, but I have nothing to write about this weekend because the one chance I got to go to the cinema, I had to watch The Phantom Menace in 3D and… I’m pretty sure you can guess how that went (about the same as it went in ‘99). In any case, here’s what’s coming up:
Amendments are to be made to my Oscar predictions ahead of the ceremony this coming Sunday
The first ever BWAP awards, as I give out awards to the films that actually deserved, as opposed to what will be going down in California in six days time and also my Top 10 films of 2011 (don’t expect either of those for about a month, I need to catch up on all the films I missed)
The first chapter of The Story of Our Universe, yes, I haven’t forgotten, it’s a large undertaking, bear with me, chapter one is almost done and is on the way
I will aiming to get more consistency into my blogging, I’m currently in the process of moving country and haven’t had a stable internet connection since October, so bear with me. In a few weeks time, ideally I’ll be aiming for three blogs a week, including a film review on Saturday.
More religious/atheistic/science blogs, the blog hasn’t become exclusively for films, although that has become it’s core, I will be doing plenty of blogs on the topics of religion and science, including The Story of Our Universe and many others.
And plenty more, but definitely expect those things over the next month or so.
Amendments are to be made to my Oscar predictions ahead of the ceremony this coming Sunday
The first ever BWAP awards, as I give out awards to the films that actually deserved, as opposed to what will be going down in California in six days time and also my Top 10 films of 2011 (don’t expect either of those for about a month, I need to catch up on all the films I missed)
The first chapter of The Story of Our Universe, yes, I haven’t forgotten, it’s a large undertaking, bear with me, chapter one is almost done and is on the way
I will aiming to get more consistency into my blogging, I’m currently in the process of moving country and haven’t had a stable internet connection since October, so bear with me. In a few weeks time, ideally I’ll be aiming for three blogs a week, including a film review on Saturday.
More religious/atheistic/science blogs, the blog hasn’t become exclusively for films, although that has become it’s core, I will be doing plenty of blogs on the topics of religion and science, including The Story of Our Universe and many others.
And plenty more, but definitely expect those things over the next month or so.
10 February, 2012
Midnight in Paris Review
Summery
Allen’s confident, masterful direction and writing, combined with a charming performance from Owen Wilson create a heart-warming feel-good film that revels in it’s characters and themes and makes them shine.
Full Review
It might be committing some form of critic suicide to say that up until watching Midnight in Paris, I had never seen a Woody Allen film, but I won’t hesitate in saying that this very unique movie makes me want to explore his work further. And it is, truly, a unique film. There aren’t many films that can get away with not giving a shred of explanation to their central plot point, but Midnight in Paris manages it, indeed, it works to the films advantage.
Midnight in Paris tells the story of Gil Pender, played by Owen Wilson, a successful but unfulfilled Hollywood screenwriter, currently making his first tentative foray into the world of fictional literature. He and his fiancé are in Paris, the reason for which is never explicitly stated, again, to the films advantage, and every night at midnight, Gil finds himself able to travel back to the time and place he most wants to be: Paris in the 1920’s. He meets and liaises with famous artists of the time, such as Ernest Hemmingway and Pablo Picasso, and eventually, a beautiful woman named Adrianna, played by Marion Cotillard.
How Gil is able to make time his proverbial “bitch” isn’t explained, and doesn’t need to be, because it isn’t an issue that one fixates over, it’s an irrelevance, taking a backseat to Gil’s nocturnal adventures that bring him such clear joy, one can’t help but revel in the experience with him. Credit must go to Owen Wilson who, while I won’t for a moment pretend that he possesses a modicum of dramatic depth or hasn’t made some truly awful career choices, gives a great performance in a role that admittedly suits him down to the ground. The writing is great as well, and it and Wilson’s performance really bring to life and flesh out Gil as a character. He’s a charming character at the heart of a charming film, and it would take a very hard heart indeed to not experience the infectious feel-good nature that Midnight in Paris exudes. Marion Cotillard gives a good performance as well, and the two have a wonderful chemistry together.
It’s simply a brilliantly well made film from start to finish, every cog in the machine doing it’s job with panache, and Allen fully deserves his Best Director academy award nomination, in addition to it being one of the best written films of the year. The film is also shot beautifully, there are some truly lovely shots of Paris, and the camera knows when to take a step back and when to create a more intimate feel. It can’t be understated what great camerawork can do to suck the viewer into the film, a fact which Midnight in Paris doesn’t ignore, and when it’s combined with Wilson and Cotillard’s great chemistry, it leads to some beautiful scenes, which make up, on the whole, a beautiful film.
Should I see it?
It’s hard to conceive of a type of viewer who wouldn’t enjoy Midnight in Paris from start to finish. Definitely see it.
Allen’s confident, masterful direction and writing, combined with a charming performance from Owen Wilson create a heart-warming feel-good film that revels in it’s characters and themes and makes them shine.
Full Review
It might be committing some form of critic suicide to say that up until watching Midnight in Paris, I had never seen a Woody Allen film, but I won’t hesitate in saying that this very unique movie makes me want to explore his work further. And it is, truly, a unique film. There aren’t many films that can get away with not giving a shred of explanation to their central plot point, but Midnight in Paris manages it, indeed, it works to the films advantage.
Midnight in Paris tells the story of Gil Pender, played by Owen Wilson, a successful but unfulfilled Hollywood screenwriter, currently making his first tentative foray into the world of fictional literature. He and his fiancé are in Paris, the reason for which is never explicitly stated, again, to the films advantage, and every night at midnight, Gil finds himself able to travel back to the time and place he most wants to be: Paris in the 1920’s. He meets and liaises with famous artists of the time, such as Ernest Hemmingway and Pablo Picasso, and eventually, a beautiful woman named Adrianna, played by Marion Cotillard.
How Gil is able to make time his proverbial “bitch” isn’t explained, and doesn’t need to be, because it isn’t an issue that one fixates over, it’s an irrelevance, taking a backseat to Gil’s nocturnal adventures that bring him such clear joy, one can’t help but revel in the experience with him. Credit must go to Owen Wilson who, while I won’t for a moment pretend that he possesses a modicum of dramatic depth or hasn’t made some truly awful career choices, gives a great performance in a role that admittedly suits him down to the ground. The writing is great as well, and it and Wilson’s performance really bring to life and flesh out Gil as a character. He’s a charming character at the heart of a charming film, and it would take a very hard heart indeed to not experience the infectious feel-good nature that Midnight in Paris exudes. Marion Cotillard gives a good performance as well, and the two have a wonderful chemistry together.
It’s simply a brilliantly well made film from start to finish, every cog in the machine doing it’s job with panache, and Allen fully deserves his Best Director academy award nomination, in addition to it being one of the best written films of the year. The film is also shot beautifully, there are some truly lovely shots of Paris, and the camera knows when to take a step back and when to create a more intimate feel. It can’t be understated what great camerawork can do to suck the viewer into the film, a fact which Midnight in Paris doesn’t ignore, and when it’s combined with Wilson and Cotillard’s great chemistry, it leads to some beautiful scenes, which make up, on the whole, a beautiful film.
Should I see it?
It’s hard to conceive of a type of viewer who wouldn’t enjoy Midnight in Paris from start to finish. Definitely see it.
04 February, 2012
The 84th Annual Academy Awards: Final Predictions
Well we are into February, and we’re just 21 days away from the 84th annual Academy Awards. A while back a did a blog predicting the nominees, and now I’m going to try and predict the winners. Let’s not waste any time, and dive straight in
Best Picture
Will Win: The Artist
Could Win: The Descendants
Should Win: Hugo
Biggest Snub: The Ides of March
What I thought was a much closer race at the time of my last blog has now become almost a formality for Michael Hazanavicious’s love letter to cinema, The Artist. It has been gathering momentum, and it’s competitors’ momentum has been waning. All in all, I think it’s going to be a comfortable win for another supremely overrated film. If not The Artist, then The Descendants is probably the next in line, but don’t hold your breath.
Best Director
Will Win: Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Could Win: Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life
Should Win: Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Biggest Snub: Bennet Miller - Moneyball
The race Best Director is a little more interesting. I predicted Scorsese to do well here in my last predictions, and after his Golden Globe win, I’ve seen nothing to change my mind. With that said, I didn’t think The Tree of Life, great film though it is, would trouble the Oscars this year, so if the Academy are in the mood to nominate it, perhaps they’re in the mood to give Terrence Malick a directing nod, where it fares a much better chance than the Best Picture category.
Best Actor
Will Win: George Clooney - The Descendants
Could Win: Brad Pitt - Moneyball
Should Win: Gary Oldman - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Biggest Snub: Michael Fassbinder -Shame/Leonardo DiCaprio - J. Edgar
The Best Actor race looks pretty straightforward, with Clooney looking the odds on favourite to take home the statue. Brad Pitt could cause an upset, but it’s Clooney’s Oscar to lose.
Best Actress
Could Win: Viola Davis - The Help
Could Win: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Should Win: Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Biggest Snub: Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin
Probably the closest race in the major categories, the Best Actress award really could go either way, with Viola Davis and Meryl Streep set to battle it out for the statue. The Academy may wish to reward The help, it would no doubt be seen as a good PR move, given The Help’s racially themed subject matter, but the Academy love Streep, and they love Britain, and they love seeing great Actors/Actresses giving great performances of British politicians during a time of strife in the country, such as war, such as The Falklands war, for those of you who don’t know your history. If you pushed me, I’d probably say Streep will take the award, but it really could go either way.
Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn
Could Win: Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Should Win: Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Biggest Snub: Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Ides of March
Yeah, this is definitely my “stick-your-neck-out” prediction of this year, everyone and their mother things Plummer is going to take home the statue, but personally, I’m not feeling it, I think the hype behind Plummer’s performance has set him up to fall victim to a scalp, and I think the most likely source is Kenneth Branagh as Sir Lawrence Olivier, it’s the kind of role and the kind of actor that The Academy positively drools over, and it may be going against conventional wisdom, but I think Branagh is going to nick it
Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Octavia Spencer - The Help
Could win: Bérénice Bejo - The Artist
Should Win: Idunnolol
Biggest Snub: Shailene Woodley - The Descendants
Spencer probably takes the statue, but I can’t help but feel that The Academy smuggling Bérénice Bejo into a category she clearly doesn’t belong might just be a sly ploy to give The Artist another award. It should also be said that the other three nominees are all in with a shot, and it’s shaping up to be a tight race.
Best Original Screenplay
Will Win: Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Could Win: Michael Hazanavicius - The Artist
Should Win: Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Biggest Snub: There really weren’t any
All in all, it’s very difficult to see this going to anything except Midnight in Paris. The Artist is probably the most likely film to cause an upset, but I’d say Midnight in Paris is a pretty safe bet.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin - Moneyball
Could Win: George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon - The Ides of March
Should Win: George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon - The Ides of March
Biggest Snub: Idunnolol
Difficult to predict, there’s no one powerhouse screenplay that seems poised to take the cake, I’m going to say Moneyball, but take it with a pinch of salt.
Best Animated Feature
Will Win: Rango
Could Win: Chico and Rita
Should Win: None of them
Biggest Snub: The Adventures of Tintin
After the baffling snub of The Adventures of Tintin, Rango is probably the most likely candidate to take the statue.
Best Foreign Film
Will Win: A Seperation
Could Win: Nothing Else
Should Win: A Seperation
Biggest Snub: I don’t see many foreign films lol
Easiest call anyone will make all night, A Seperation will win, hands down.
My knowledge gets a little hazy and my predictions less well informed after this point, so take everything after this with a pinch of salt
Best Documentaries/Short films
Haven’t a clue, I’d be flat out guessing here
Best Original Score
Will Win: Ludovic Bource - The Artist
Could Win: John Williams - The Adventures of Tintin
Should Win: Howard Shore - Hugo
Best Original Song
Will Win: “Man or Muppet” - The Muppets
Could Win: Well, “Real in Rio” - Rio, seeing as it’s the only other nominee
Should Win: Haven’t heard either of them
Best Sound Editing
Will Win: Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis - Drive
Could Win: Ren Klyce - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Should Win: Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis - Drive
Best Sound Mixing
Will Win: David Parker, Ren Klyce, Michael Semanik and Bo Persson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Could Win: Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush, Peter J. Devlin - Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Should Win: David Parker, Ren Klyce, Michael Semanik and Bo Persson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Art Direction
Will Win: The Artist
Could Win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Should Win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Best Cinematography
Will Win: Robert Richardson - Hugo
Could Win: Jeff Cronenweth - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Should Win: Robert Richardson - Hugo
Best Makeup
Will Win: Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Could Win: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland - The Iron Lady
Should Win: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland - The Iron Lady
Best Costume Design
Will Win: Mark Bridges - The Artist
Could Win: Anonymous - Lisy Christl
Should Win: Sandy Powell - Hugo
Best Film Editing
Will Win: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Could Win: Thelma Schoonmaker - Hugo
Should Win: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Visual Effects
Will Win: Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Could Win: Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barret - Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Should Win: Will Win: Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Best Picture
Will Win: The Artist
Could Win: The Descendants
Should Win: Hugo
Biggest Snub: The Ides of March
What I thought was a much closer race at the time of my last blog has now become almost a formality for Michael Hazanavicious’s love letter to cinema, The Artist. It has been gathering momentum, and it’s competitors’ momentum has been waning. All in all, I think it’s going to be a comfortable win for another supremely overrated film. If not The Artist, then The Descendants is probably the next in line, but don’t hold your breath.
Best Director
Will Win: Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Could Win: Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life
Should Win: Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Biggest Snub: Bennet Miller - Moneyball
The race Best Director is a little more interesting. I predicted Scorsese to do well here in my last predictions, and after his Golden Globe win, I’ve seen nothing to change my mind. With that said, I didn’t think The Tree of Life, great film though it is, would trouble the Oscars this year, so if the Academy are in the mood to nominate it, perhaps they’re in the mood to give Terrence Malick a directing nod, where it fares a much better chance than the Best Picture category.
Best Actor
Will Win: George Clooney - The Descendants
Could Win: Brad Pitt - Moneyball
Should Win: Gary Oldman - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Biggest Snub: Michael Fassbinder -Shame/Leonardo DiCaprio - J. Edgar
The Best Actor race looks pretty straightforward, with Clooney looking the odds on favourite to take home the statue. Brad Pitt could cause an upset, but it’s Clooney’s Oscar to lose.
Best Actress
Could Win: Viola Davis - The Help
Could Win: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Should Win: Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Biggest Snub: Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin
Probably the closest race in the major categories, the Best Actress award really could go either way, with Viola Davis and Meryl Streep set to battle it out for the statue. The Academy may wish to reward The help, it would no doubt be seen as a good PR move, given The Help’s racially themed subject matter, but the Academy love Streep, and they love Britain, and they love seeing great Actors/Actresses giving great performances of British politicians during a time of strife in the country, such as war, such as The Falklands war, for those of you who don’t know your history. If you pushed me, I’d probably say Streep will take the award, but it really could go either way.
Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn
Could Win: Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Should Win: Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Biggest Snub: Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Ides of March
Yeah, this is definitely my “stick-your-neck-out” prediction of this year, everyone and their mother things Plummer is going to take home the statue, but personally, I’m not feeling it, I think the hype behind Plummer’s performance has set him up to fall victim to a scalp, and I think the most likely source is Kenneth Branagh as Sir Lawrence Olivier, it’s the kind of role and the kind of actor that The Academy positively drools over, and it may be going against conventional wisdom, but I think Branagh is going to nick it
Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Octavia Spencer - The Help
Could win: Bérénice Bejo - The Artist
Should Win: Idunnolol
Biggest Snub: Shailene Woodley - The Descendants
Spencer probably takes the statue, but I can’t help but feel that The Academy smuggling Bérénice Bejo into a category she clearly doesn’t belong might just be a sly ploy to give The Artist another award. It should also be said that the other three nominees are all in with a shot, and it’s shaping up to be a tight race.
Best Original Screenplay
Will Win: Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Could Win: Michael Hazanavicius - The Artist
Should Win: Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Biggest Snub: There really weren’t any
All in all, it’s very difficult to see this going to anything except Midnight in Paris. The Artist is probably the most likely film to cause an upset, but I’d say Midnight in Paris is a pretty safe bet.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin - Moneyball
Could Win: George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon - The Ides of March
Should Win: George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon - The Ides of March
Biggest Snub: Idunnolol
Difficult to predict, there’s no one powerhouse screenplay that seems poised to take the cake, I’m going to say Moneyball, but take it with a pinch of salt.
Best Animated Feature
Will Win: Rango
Could Win: Chico and Rita
Should Win: None of them
Biggest Snub: The Adventures of Tintin
After the baffling snub of The Adventures of Tintin, Rango is probably the most likely candidate to take the statue.
Best Foreign Film
Will Win: A Seperation
Could Win: Nothing Else
Should Win: A Seperation
Biggest Snub: I don’t see many foreign films lol
Easiest call anyone will make all night, A Seperation will win, hands down.
My knowledge gets a little hazy and my predictions less well informed after this point, so take everything after this with a pinch of salt
Best Documentaries/Short films
Haven’t a clue, I’d be flat out guessing here
Best Original Score
Will Win: Ludovic Bource - The Artist
Could Win: John Williams - The Adventures of Tintin
Should Win: Howard Shore - Hugo
Best Original Song
Will Win: “Man or Muppet” - The Muppets
Could Win: Well, “Real in Rio” - Rio, seeing as it’s the only other nominee
Should Win: Haven’t heard either of them
Best Sound Editing
Will Win: Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis - Drive
Could Win: Ren Klyce - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Should Win: Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis - Drive
Best Sound Mixing
Will Win: David Parker, Ren Klyce, Michael Semanik and Bo Persson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Could Win: Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush, Peter J. Devlin - Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Should Win: David Parker, Ren Klyce, Michael Semanik and Bo Persson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Art Direction
Will Win: The Artist
Could Win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Should Win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Best Cinematography
Will Win: Robert Richardson - Hugo
Could Win: Jeff Cronenweth - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Should Win: Robert Richardson - Hugo
Best Makeup
Will Win: Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Could Win: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland - The Iron Lady
Should Win: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland - The Iron Lady
Best Costume Design
Will Win: Mark Bridges - The Artist
Could Win: Anonymous - Lisy Christl
Should Win: Sandy Powell - Hugo
Best Film Editing
Will Win: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Could Win: Thelma Schoonmaker - Hugo
Should Win: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Visual Effects
Will Win: Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Could Win: Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barret - Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Should Win: Will Win: Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
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